as well as on those who study botany as a branch of natural history. The extent of Trelowarren botanic garden is a square of nearly an acre, lying direct east and west, surrounded by a brick wall 16 ft. high. On the south aspect of this wall will be a range of glass for the culture of the more tender exotics. One half of the garden will be illustrative of the Linnean arrangement; the other half, of the natural arrangement of Jussieu, as adopted by Decandolle. Each arrangement is surrounded by a border of 5 ft. in width, appropriated to the flowering of the more beautiful herbaceous plants, including annuals. Through the centre of the garden there is a gravel walk, in which, in the middle of the garden, there is a temple partaking of the character of a botanical library with its appurtenances, as hortus siccus, &c. Six feet from each wall is a gravel walk, cutting at right angles the centre walk, which affords three additional distinct departments; the first for medicinal plants; the second for agricultural purposes; the third for the family of Gramíneæ. With regard to the detail of the Linnean department, care has been taken to limit the number of species of the more numerous genera to six, with the exception of Solidàgo, Aster, Helianthus, Cnìcus, Carduus, and some others, where illustrations are necessary to decide the approximation of one species in relation to another of the same genus. By this limitation a greater number of genera is obtained. The department is divided into thirty-six beds, each 24 ft. wide, with an alley 1 ft. wide edged with box and gravelled. class Monándria Monogýnia commences with the genus Blìtum, with its species; proceeds thus on through the whole system as far as Syngenèsia Polygàmia Necessària, embracing every genus in which species are found suitable for botanical purposes. This affords 1000 species to develope the sexual system of plants. The With regard to the natural arrangement, the ground plan is the same as that for the Linnean, which, consequently, will admit of the introduction of the same number of species; but varying these, unless where the introduction of the tribe renders this impracticable. The arrangement of the Gramíneæ contains at present 200 species, but sufficiency of room still remains for the introduction of a larger collection, which will be immediately effected. It is likewise in contemplation to add to this garden another portion of natural history, viz. an arrangement of earths, in some way approaching to that in the Jardin des Plantes at Paris. The locality of this garden is within 100 yards of the house, directly annexed to a very beautiful and extensive pleasure-ground, laid out in the old style of gardening. The entrance will be formed by two folding iron gates, the pillars of which will terminate in busts of the founders of the two systems. I cannot end this letter without passing some few observations upon the utility which would attend the general introduction of private botanic gardens in England, having similar purposes to those of Trelowarren, viz. the joining of the useful to the pleasing. The numerous books on botanical subjects and vegetable culture which daily issue from the press, some of which are of the most costly description, are proofs sufficient of an ardent spirit of enquiry, which, were it seconded by practical botanic gardens, or what may be termed living grammars of botany where its theory can be united with practice, the result would eminently increase botanical knowledge. In fact, without its practice, its theory is a mere trifle. The great drawback upon the practical botany of this country is in not having botanic gardens wherein any facility is afforded to its study. It is true that of its theory nothing is wanting: the whole of the educated portion of the nation can rehearse it as a part of their routine of scholastic information; but there it ends. A professor of botany, of very superior abilities, has been elected to the botanical chair of the London University : his lectures, no matter how brilliant they may be, will never effect their purpose, unless they are immediately carried in the mind of the pupil to the botanic garden, where he can compare the genera with their affinities, and by self-enquiry make himself master of the characters which form the genus. Such a routine of education, and with it the genius, is what will form the botanist; any thing else is but a dumb show. It is greatly to be lamented, in this enlightened age, that gentlemen's head gardeners should show such a want of taste and science in the arrangement of their plants. For instance, if a catalogue were published of the plants at Syon House (the seat of the Duke of Northumberland), precisely as they are arranged, could it be possible to conceive any thing more frightful than it would offer to the scientific world? Although possessing a very superior assortment of plants, and, indeed, the elements of an attractive botanic garden*, the *We presume our correspondent alludes to the state of things at Syon as they were three or four years ago: every thing is since entirely changed, and not a wall, a walk, or a bed of the old botanic garden remains; the new one is not yet planted, and therefore cannot be criticised. — Cond. associations which are identified with natural philosophy are destroyed, and the mind left to wander on objects, as it were, unsusceptible of the influence of science. I am, Sir, &c. WILLIAM DUNCAN. Trelowarren, Cornwall, November, 1829. ART. XII. Plan of a Flower-Garden, with a List of Plants for one Year, by a young Lady. Communicated by J. G. Sir, THE following plan is the composition of a young lady, who, being fond of flowers, has directed her attention to the effects of arranging them in different manners. Not being satisfied with the garden as it lately stood, she made the following sketch (fig. 84.), which, as a whole, is considered by all who have seen it as very perfect in its kind; for which reason I send it to you, thinking it may afford some useful hints to your readers. The beds are on turf, and the surrounding margin is of choice shrubs, early-flowering deciduous sorts, and low, or slow-growing, evergreens; the great object being to admit sufficient sun and air, without which the flowers come to nothing. Hampstead, November 11. 1829. REFERENCES TO THE PLAN. 1, Choice herbaceous plants, perennials. 2, Anemones in spring; Tigridia pavònia in summer. J. G. 3, Vanthol tulips and ranunculus in spring; choice dwarf geraniums in summer. 4, Narcissus and jonquils in spring; Sálvia spléndens and Fúchsia coccínea in summer. 5, Ten-week stocks in spring; Clárkia pulchella and Indian pinks in summer. 6, Tulips in spring; Enothèra speciòsa in summer. 7, A collection of campanulas. 8, A collection of Phlox. 9, Fritillària meleagris and winter aconite in spring; Lobèlia fúlgens and L. Erinus in summer. 10, Hyacinthus in spring; Fúchsia macrophylla in summer. 11, nothèra and China asters. 12, Choice herbaceous plants. 13, Crocuses and snowdrops in spring; pinks and carnations in summer. 14, Sweet-scented and crimson China roses. 15, Sun-dial. 16, Rock-work. 17, Edging of Ròsa semperflòrens, and within a row of georginas, about 100 sorts; every 12 ft. a standard Noisette rose of sorts. 18, Rustic arcade, covered with ivy. 19, Rustic covered seat. 20, Open gravel. ART. XIII. On the Treatment of the American Shrubs in the Plea sure-Gardens of Francis Canning, Esq., Foxcote. By Mr. W. B. ROSE, Gardener there. Sir, I AM induced to send you an account of my mode of treating American shrubs, from seeing in your Magazine (Vol. V. p. 143.) an abridged communication from Mr. Donald on the same subject, and also from the bad appearance which these plants generally present. At the north-west corner of the noble mansion at this place my American plants may be seen in full flower, with corollas more than 14 in. in circumference. They grow in sand mixed with lime and bog earth; the sand was washed down through the plantations from the sandy hills above, carrying the dead leaves with it into the fish-ponds. After several years it was taken out and mixed with lime, for agricultural use. I took some of this, and added a little bog earth to it, and I placed the plants in it. They are considerably shaded by the mansion, and some large elm trees, &c. I peg down all the bottom branches, cover them with soil, leaving only the ends above the surface of the ground. In this manner they bloom beautifully, and, the other parts of the plants running upwards and coming into flower, the whole has the appearance of one thicket of blossom, and is the admiration of every one. I this year planted a quantity of American shrubs in a heap of mud, in a sunny situation, by the side of a large fish-pond: they are in a thriving condition at present, but how they will be some time hence I cannot determine. With respect to my other bed of plants, being in a cold situation, I always cover them in November with a shelter of common laurel boughs. I let this covering remain till Mayday, after which the plants present a most beautiful appear ance. I am surprised that the common laurel is not more cultivated than it is, as it will grow under the dripping of trees, where many other plants will not thrive, and it moreover affords an excellent shelter for game, besides other purposes to which it may be applied. I am, Sir, &c. Foxcote, near Shipston on Stour, W. B. ROSE. |